Wildfires can be especially devastating for low-income families, often leaving them with long, difficult paths to recovery. That has been true for single mother Dia James, 36, and her 12-year-old son Dichar, who are still struggling to rebuild their lives almost six years after their rental in Calabasas, California, burned down during the Woolsey Fire. The devastation of the fire was later compounded by the pandemic, which made it impossible for James to work, and to find a new rental unit in an already strained housing market.
Climate experts say the U.S. can expect more destructive fires across the Western U.S. in the future. Disaster experts stress that states should develop strategies to mitigate the impact of wildfires and other climate-related events on people like James and her son, who lacked the financial resources needed to recover after their home was destroyed. But that help may not be coming soon. A bill that would have established pilot programs in vulnerable communities aimed at expanding insurance options and mitigating climate risks was vetoed last year by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who cited the budget shortfall. James has instead relied on the state’s social safety net, which, after years of uncertainty, has finally provided her and Dichar with some semblance of stability.
